'Budget is death warrant for thousands of pubs'

The Chancellor has signed the death warrant for thousands of British pubs by increasing duty 2% from midnight.

The British Beer and Pub Association had led the Axe the Tax campaign for a duty freeze — but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Today's Budget signs the death warrant for thousands of Britain's pubs and for tens of thousands of British jobs," said British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings.

"Pubs play a vital role in the economy and in local communities. Yet six are closing every day and more than 2,000 have gone in the last 12 months alone.

"The Chancellor's unfair and unjustified announcement today condemns thousands more to shut for good.

"In imposing these additional beer taxes, the Government has wilfully ignored the views of the public, landlords, consumer groups, industry representatives and MPs from all parties who have been calling for action to save the British pub.

"At a time when the rest of the economy is getting a supporting hand, the beer and pub industry is being singled out for punitive action.

"Last year the Chancellor raised beer tax by an eye-watering 18 per cent. Today's rise is a further body blow. The result will be more pubs closing, more jobs being lost and more people consuming alcohol outside supervised, licensed premises."

The BBPA said it would continue its Axe the Tax campaign to scrap future escalator rises. "We will be mobilising public, consumer, and industry support to force the Government to scrap the duty escalator as part of a co-ordinated plan to save the Great British pub," said Hastings.